Nigerian soldiers killed 80 jihadists on Wednesday who were planning to attack military positions in conflict-torn Borno state, the military said, two days after a series of suicide bombings in the state capital.
Boko Haram and militants from rival Islamic State’s West Africa Province have stepped up attacks on military and civilian targets as Africa’s most populous country grapples with a protracted insurgency.
The military said it had “successfully” repelled an overnight attack by unidentified rebels on the Malam Fatori position near the border with Niger.
“The terrorists advanced on foot in large numbers and deployed armed drones in a desperate attempt to penetrate the defenses of the troop location,” military spokesman Sani Uba said in a statement.
The military engaged the attackers and “no fewer than 80 terrorists” were killed, including what the military said were three high-profile terrorist commanders.
Uba said the Nigerian Air Force was “complemented by the rapid strike passes of Nigeria’s allied air power”.
Earlier, the military put the death toll at 60.
A military spokesman said four soldiers were injured during the operation.
The military released a statement on X and shared images of dozens of bodies lined on the ground.
“Terrorists suspected to be members of Boko Haram/ISW” were traveling on foot and were “supported by multiple armed drones,” the statement said.
News of the attack, which occurred shortly after midnight, came as the country’s defense minister was visiting Maiduguri, after three suicide bombings killed 23 people in the city on Monday.
The military said ISW carried out four attacks on military installations in Borno from Sunday to Monday night.
Jihadist violence has slowed from its peak around 2015, but Boko Haram and ISW have recently stepped up attacks in northeastern Nigeria in an effort to establish a caliphate.
Wednesday’s “failed attack” came as the country’s vice president, defense and security chiefs traveled to Maiduguri following Monday’s suicide attack.
Chief of Defense Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, said their visit was to “ensure that it will not be repeated in the future”.
“We cannot defeat these threats alone. The support and vigilance of local residents are vital to safeguarding lives and maintaining peace,” he added.
The insurgency that began in 2009 has killed more than 40,000 people and displaced about 2 million, according to the United Nations.
Last month, the United States began deploying 200 troops to Nigeria to provide technical and training support to soldiers fighting jihadist groups.
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This article was generated from automated news agency feeds without modifications to the text.
